2017 Drivers Ratings School Report: Patrik Pasma

TERM ONE

Grade: C

Comment: In the first half of the championship, Pasma claimed a series of top 10 finishes, including three podiums. Though he couldn’t keep up with team-mate Jamie Caroline or Logan Sargeant, a number of top results throughout the term put him sixth in the championship standings heading into the summer break.

TERM TWO

Grade: C-

Comment: Despite a handful of top results, Pasma struggled in the second half of the season. In the opening two rounds, he claimed only nine points before picking up another podium at Rockingham. He wouldn’t take to the podium again and ended the season eighth in the championship.

Overall Grade: C

Best moment of the season: Pasma kicked off his British F4 career with a podium in the second race at Brands Hatch. He jumped past Billy Monger on the grid, but was forced to defend against the Challenge Cup driver, allowing race leader Ayrton Simmons to escape up the road. He was able to shake Monger off as Sargeant challenged for third. Though he set the fastest lap of the race, he couldn’t close in on Simmons, finishing five seconds behind in second.

Worst moment of the season: Having been strong in preseason testing and Brands Hatch, Pasma’s season changed after an accident in the final race at Donington Park. After picking up a podium in the second race of the weekend, Pasma was running fifth in the early stages of race three when a spin caused him to come to a stop on track. He was hit from behind by Monger, bringing out the red flag. The incident led to life-changing injuries for Monger, and also fractured Pasma’s vertebra. The teenager was able to recover physically and mentally, and returned to the podium a month later at Oulton Park.